3M Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Philip G Martin

Joel D Oxman

Kevin Michael Lewandowski

Patrick Darby Hyde

William L Parish, Jr

Gary L Olson

Dennis G Welygan

Todd R Williams

John H Ko

Michael Govek

Carole Sedlock

Sharon R Benjamin

Michael K Domroese

Richard L Severance

William Ward Merrill

Duane Douglas Fansler

F Andrew Ubel

Caroline M Ylitalo

Jianxian Xue

Douglas Scott Dunn

Nathan A Abel

Gina M Buccellato

Thomas J Xue

Daniel J Stepan

Dennis L Krueger

Thomas I Insley

James M Jonza

Seyed Abolhassan Angadjivand

David T Yust

Thomas G Skulley

Yonas Gebrewold

Kristin J Godbey

Christopher P Henderson

Marvin E Jones

Joseph D Rule

David M Blomberg

Britton G Billingsley

John M Brandner

Larry A Brey

John M Sebastian

John E Trend

Erik J Johnson

Randall Lynn Alberg

Audra A Wilson

Claudio Ponzio

Lance E Behymer

Randall L Alberg

Rochelle L Lockridge

Francesco Lovo

Dwayne D Daugaard

David B Running

Gary W Schlaeger

Dan Mattano

Randall R Schickler

Gerald A Ridlehoover

Douglas S Dunn

Larry A Schumann

Michaekl K Domroese

Various embodiments of a respirator that includes a harness, a mask body, and an exhalation valve are disclosed. The exhalation valve can include a valve seat and a flexible flap that is in engagement with the valve seat. The flexible flap can have one or more materials that can cause the flap to flash when moving from a closed position to an open position or vice versa. The flashing valve can make it easier for a user to ascertain whether the valve is operating properly.

Respirator having optically active exhalation valve

Various embodiments of a respirator () that includes a harness (), a mask body (), and an exhalation valve () are disclosed. The exhalation valve () can include a valve seat () and a flexible flap () that is in engagement with the valve seat. The flexible flap can have one or more materials that can cause the flap to flash () when moving from a closed position to an open position or vice versa. The flashing valve can make it easier for a user to ascertain whether the valve is operating properly.

A filtering face-piece respirator that has a harness and a mask body where the mask body includes a filtering structure and a support structure. An exhalation valve is attached to the mask body and includes a valve seat that is integral to the mask body. The present invention is beneficial in that it eliminates the need to separately manufacture some or all of the non-dynamic parts of the exhalation valve. There also is no need to subsequently attach the valve seat to the mask body.

Filtering face-piece respirator having an integrally-joined exhalation valve

Reinforced filter media are prepared by adhering discrete, non-intersecting strands of thermoplastic or thermoset materials to the filter media web. The filter media may be a fabric, a nonwoven web or a filtering foam. The reinforced filter media can be used to prepare respirators, including flat-fold respirators or molded respirators.

Reinforced filter media

Exhalation valve flap

A filter elementthat includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outletthat is in fluid communication with the inlet, a filter mediathrough which the fluid passes when moving from the inletto the outlet, and a plenumthat comprises continuous filamentsthat are bonded to each other at points of filament intersectionThe plenum is easy to manufacture, is resistant to compaction when contorted, and exhibits a low pressure drop as air is distributed across the filter media.

Filter element that has plenum containing bonded continuous filaments

A filtering face-piece respiratorthat has a harnessand a mask body. The mask bodyincludes a support structureand a filtering structure. The support structurecontains an auxetic meshthat has been molded into an intended cup-shape configuration, and the filtering structurecontains a filtration layerfor removing contaminants from the ambient air. The use of an auxetic meshin the support structureprovides more uniformly-sized openingsin the meshand reduces opportunities for mesh overlapping and mesh distortion.

Filtering face-piece respirator having an auxetic mesh in the mask body

Face masks that include a unidirectional valve are disclosed. The unidirectional valves permit fluid communication between an interior gas space defined by the mask and the wearer and an exterior gas space outside of the face mask. The unidirectional valves includes one or more valve flaps positioned over an opening formed in the base of the valve. Each of the valve flaps includes a free edge and a hinge located generally opposite from the free edge.

Face mask with unidirectional multi-flap valve

A method of making an auxetic mesh, which method includes: (a) extruding a polymeric materialonto an open casting surfacethat has an intended patterndisposed therein, the patternbeing configured to create an auxetic mesh; (b) wiping off excess extruded polymeric materialfrom the open casting surface; (c) removing the cast meshfrom the open casting surfaceafter the excess polymeric materialhas been wiped off; and (d) removing any residual polymeric material that is not of the intended mesh pattern. The method allows for the continuous production of auxetic meshes.

Method of making an auxetic mesh

Unidirectional valve

A unidirectional valve for use with a filtering face mask. The valve can include a flap, and a valve seat. The flap can be cantilevered and can flex away from a seal surface of the valve seat to an open position. The valve can further include a housing that at least partially covers the valve seat and the flap. In some embodiments, the height of the housing is no greater than about 1.25 cm, while the distance between the flap and the seal surface when the flap is in the open position is at least 0.35 cm. A projection can be coupled to an inner surface of the housing, and the height of the projection can generally decrease toward the front of the housing. In some embodiments, the projection can have a profile that substantially follows the profile of the flap when the flap is in the open position.

Unidirectional valves and filtering face masks comprising unidirectional valves

A filtering face-piece respiratorthat includes a mask bodyand a harnessThe mask bodycontains a filtering structurethat is retained in position on the mask bodyby a support structurethat includes a longitudinally-movable, centrally-spaced, transversely-extending memberthat extends from a first sideof the structureto a second sidewithout being joined together by any longitudinally-extending members that hinder movement of the transversely extending memberin the longitudinal direction. The transversely-extending members converge towards each other at east sideof the mask bodyA filtering face-piece respiratorof this construction can allow the mask bodyto readily accommodate the motion of a person's jaw. Workers who use this filtering face-piece respirator may find it much easier to talk to other persons when working. A single mask size also may be able to properly fit to faces of various sizes.

Filtering face-piece respirator that has expandable mask body

A filtering face-piece respiratorthat comprises a harnessand a mask body. The mask bodyincludes a filtering structureand a support structure. The support structurehas first and second opposing side portionsthat each include a living hinge. The use of living hinges allows the mask body to respond dynamically to wearer jaw movement.

Filtering face-piece respirator support structure that has living hinges

A filtering face mask that includes a mask body that is adapted to fit at least over the nose and mouth of a wearer to create an interior gas space when worn; and an exhalation valve that is in fluid communication with the interior gas space. The exhalation valve includes a valve seat with a seal surface and an orifice through which exhaled air may pass to leave the interior gas space; and a flexible flap that is mounted to the valve seat such that the flap makes contact with the seal surface when the valve is in its closed position and such that the flap can flex away from the seal surface during an exhalation to allow exhaled air to pass through the orifice. The flap is unbiased when in its closed position and exhibits a cantilever bend ratio of 0.0050 or less.

Filtering face mask with a unidirectional valve having a stiff unbiased flexible flap

A filtering face maskthat has a mask body and a new exhalation valve. The mask body is adapted to fit at least over the nose and mouth of a person to help define an interior gas space when the mask is worn. The exhalation valvepermits fluid communication between the interior gas space and an exterior gas space. The exhalation valvehas a valve seatand a flap. The valve seatincludes a resilient seal surfaceand an orificethrough which exhaled air may pass to leave the interior gas space. The flapis mounted to the valve seatsuch that the flapmakes contact with the resilient seal surfacewhen the valve is in its closed position and such that the flapcan move away from the seal surfacein response to an exhalation to allow exhaled air to pass through the orificeto ultimately enter the exterior gas space. A filtering face mask that utilizes an exhalation valve that has a resilient seal surface can enable the valve to open under substantially less pressure, which, in turn, may improve wearer comfort.

Filtering face mask that has a resilient seal surface in its exhalation valve

Growing community of inventors

Forest Lake, MN, United States of America

Philip G Martin